Jesus invites us...
August 11, 2019: 19th Sunday in Ordinary time
Wisdom 18: 6-9; Hebrew 11: 1-2, 8-19; Luke 12: 32-48
The theme of last Sunday continues today, with a little further deepening. Reading and reflecting on the readings of today and their theme, one could be reminded of the story of the Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum. Certainly most of us know the story or at least have seen the film that first was produced in 1939 and a few other versions later. Little Dorothy Gale finds herself blown away to a land far from home and yearns to return home. She gets to hear of the one who can help her get home… the great Wizard of Oz and she follows the yellow brick road that leads to the Wizard, in the hope of meeting the Wizard to find her way home! On the way, she enters into the lives of the Scarecrow who lacks brain, the Cowardly Lion who lacks courage and the Tin Man who lacks a heart… and changes their lives for the better as she finds her way home! How close this fable is to our lives, as presented by the readings today!
The people of Israel are on a journey, yearning to enter the Promised Land walking with hope in the path shown by the Lord, says the first reading. This Promised Land is not merely the land that is flowing with milk and honey – explains to us the letter to the Hebrews – we are bound to the city built by God, the city that the Lord has prepared for us. The final chapter of the Pope Francis' first encyclical Lumen Fidei, was inspired by this part of the epistle – “as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. God…has prepared for them a city” (11:16). This God’s city, it is much greater than a worldly city we can think of or the perfect society one can dream of – it is the Reign of God.
In the Gospel Jesus invites us with his wide open arms, “Come Home to the Reign!” And Jesus shows us the way, the way we need to walk towards this Reign. All the way to heaven, is heaven they say! Hence the way to reaching the Reign is creating it all along the way we walk through in life. How do we do it, we ask! And Jesus has a simple set of directions in the Gospel today!
The First of them, REALISATION of the true treasure. Following from the previous week’s reflection, Jesus calls us to a clarity on what is the real treasure! Selling everything and giving to the poor, providing oneself with the purses that do not grow old, earning treasures that are not eaten by moth – all these mean a right understanding of what a true treasure is, so that our hearts may be sufficiently prepared and firmly set towards it. Abraham knew it and that is why he was prepared to give up even his only, beloved son! Abraham realized that God’s promises were much more dependable than all that one can possess!
The second is READINESS to receive the Reign from the Lord’s hands! Prompt to pick up the signs and challenges of the Reign of God, we are challenged to respond to the demands of the Reign at any time. It could be at home in the family, on the streets in the neighbourhood, at work in the workplace, amidst those who do not know Christ, in contact with those who do not believe in God, in the face of an injustice, in the wake of a conflict, in the presence of someone who is going through a crisis – wherever we may find ourselves, we are called to be people of the Reign. Reign of God is not merely a destination we are bound to, it is a situation we are called to create together as a family of brothers and sisters called by one God, our father and mother!
The third is RESPONSIBILITY towards brothers and sisters, to serve those around as the least of all, without counting the cost or expecting a return. Forgiveness, Compassion, Love and Service are concrete expressions of this responsibility. Being of service to the needy, being sources of consolation to the suffering, being the voice of the voiceless, embracing in charity everyone even those who hate us – these are the signs of the Reign and the ways of making present the Reign even as we journey towards the fullness of its presence! We cannot think of a moment opportune or inopportune for these… as disciples of Christ we are called to this responsibility 24/7 and every one of the 365 days! It is tiring and demanding – Yes! From the one who has been given much, much will be expected! There is no alternative! Let’s not be lost on our way to the Reign!
If we have to get home to the Reign… we have to realize what a treasure the Reign of God is, be ready to accept it at any point of time and carryout our responsibility on a daily basis – our responsibilities of love, testimony and service to our brothers and sisters. Let’s walk dear brothers and sisters, in the way of Christ – let’s walk our way to heaven, let’s get home to the Reign!